The main goal of an author is to attract readers with his stories. To do this, they use various literary elements. Literary elements create mood, intrigue and lots of excitement. Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game" tells the story of Rainsford, who finds himself trapped on an island and must fight. Suzanne Collins' trilogy, The Hunger Games, tells the story of how Katniss must overcome the odds stacked against her. Connell and Collins use the elements of foreshadowing, allusion, and irony to create a sense of fear in their writing. An allusion is a reference to a statement, person, place or event. In "The Most Dangerous Game", Richard Connell uses allusions frequently. At the very beginning of the story, Whitney says, “I hope the jaguar rifles come from Purdey” (Connell 19). Purdey's is a famous manufacturer of shotguns and rifles, and Connell includes it in the story so that readers understand that Whitney and Rainsford are avid hunters. Furthermore, General Zaroff describes Ivan as a “Cossack”; the Cossacks were known for their remarkable combat skills. Thus, Zaroff shows Ivan as a fierce hunter whom Rainsford should fear. Additionally, while Rainsford rushes through the forest trying to come up with a plan to rout General Zaroff, Zaroff is sitting at home humming an aria from Madame Butterfly, a famous opera by Puccini. Then, just before going to bed, he reads “the works of Marcus Aurelius,” a Roman emperor. Connell makes these references to help readers benefit from some prior knowledge regarding his story and the characters/situations within it. Suzanne Collin has a way with words when it comes to using allusions. The Hunger Games are essentially an overarching allusion to ancient Rome. The G...... middle of paper ...... "The most dangerous gaming allusions and cultural references." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., November 11, 2008. Web. April 2, 2014. “The Most Dangerous Game.” Elements of Literature Third Course. Np: Holt, 2009. 16-36. Print.Shmoop editorial team. “The cultural allusions and references of the Hunger Games”. Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., November 11, 2008. Web. April 4, 2014. .Shmoop editorial team. “The Hunger Games Summary.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., November 11, 2008. Web. April 4, 2014. .Shmoop editorial team. “The Most Dangerous Games Contest Quotes, Page 1.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., November 11, 2008. Web. April 2. 2014. .